MSW Social Work Masters 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with major depressive disorder states 'I've been thinking that everyone would be better off without me.' What should the social worker assess NEXT?
- Whether the client has supportive family members nearby
- The presence of a specific plan, means, and timeline for suicide (Correct answer)
- The client's history of depressive episodes and hospitalizations
- Whether the client is currently taking prescribed antidepressants
Correct answer: The presence of a specific plan, means, and timeline for suicide
When passive suicidal ideation is present, the immediate clinical priority is assessing lethality through plan, means, and intent.
Question 2: Which stage of Prochaska and DiClemente's Transtheoretical Model involves a person actively making behavior changes within the past six months?
- Contemplation
- Preparation
- Action (Correct answer)
- Maintenance
Correct answer: Action
The Action stage is characterized by active engagement in behavior change strategies within the past six months.
Question 3: In the context of social work research, what is the primary concern with a convenience sample?
- It is too expensive to recruit compared to other sampling methods
- It may not be representative of the broader population, limiting generalizability (Correct answer)
- It violates IRB ethical standards for research with human subjects
- It requires more statistical analysis than random sampling
Correct answer: It may not be representative of the broader population, limiting generalizability
Convenience samples recruit easily accessible participants who may not reflect the target population, reducing external validity.
Question 4: Which concept describes the cumulative effect of multiple forms of oppression experienced simultaneously, such as racism and sexism?
- Dual diagnosis
- Marginalization theory
- Intersectionality (Correct answer)
- Structural violence
Correct answer: Intersectionality
Intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, describes how overlapping social identities create interconnected systems of discrimination and privilege.
Question 5: An adult client with intellectual disabilities wishes to refuse a medical procedure. What is the social worker's ethical priority?
- Defer entirely to the client's legal guardian to make the decision
- Support the client's right to participate in decision-making to the greatest extent possible (Correct answer)
- Arrange the procedure without the client's consent because it is medically necessary
- Petition the court to override the client's wishes
Correct answer: Support the client's right to participate in decision-making to the greatest extent possible
Ethical practice requires maximizing client participation in decisions about their own lives, even when capacity is limited.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'dual relationships' in social work ethics?
- Providing services to two members of the same family simultaneously
- A social worker having both a professional and a personal or business relationship with a client (Correct answer)
- Collaborating with two different agencies to serve a single client's needs
- Co-facilitating a therapy group with another licensed clinician
Correct answer: A social worker having both a professional and a personal or business relationship with a client
Dual relationships occur when a social worker assumes multiple roles with a client, which can compromise professional boundaries and objectivity.
Question 7: What is the function of supervision in clinical social work practice?
- To evaluate a supervisee's performance for disciplinary purposes only
- To provide administrative oversight, professional development, and support for ethical practice (Correct answer)
- To allow supervisors to direct all client treatment decisions directly
- To ensure compliance with billing and documentation requirements exclusively
Correct answer: To provide administrative oversight, professional development, and support for ethical practice
Clinical supervision serves administrative, educational, and supportive functions to promote competent and ethical practice.
MSW Social Work Masters 4
A client with major depressive disorder states 'I've been thinking that everyone would be better off without me.' What should the social worker assess NEXT?